It’s sweet, it’s delicious, and it may be the closest you can come to cheating death — and look amazing while doing it.
And for people looking to slim down for summer — this low-fat fruit clocks in at only 17 calories per serving while boosting your eye health and reducing your risk of cancer.
It’s the oft-forgotten apricot — also known as the Armenian plum after the country where it was abundantly cultivated in ancient times.
Apricots are loaded with beta-carotene — a powerful antioxidant that your body converts into vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes sharp.
Beta-carotene is what gives apricots — and fellow superfood “carrots” — that vibrant orange color.
Research has shown vitamin A can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles by promoting collagen production, while the fruit’s high water content — 85% — will keep your face as smooth and supple as apricot skin.
Speaking of skin — while you’ll definitely want to throw out the pit, which is toxic, you’ll be denying yourself some of the health benefits if you peel the apricot.
“An apricot’s skin has most of its fiber,” Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Beth Czerwony pointed out last year. “You can also up your fiber intake by eating them dried — dried apricots contain about three times more fiber than fresh ones. But don’t go wild. They also have almost six times more sugar in them.”
As apricots are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, they also promote good gut health.
“Both soluble and insoluble fiber are gut health superstars, and apricots have both,” Czerwony said. “Insoluble fiber helps keep stool (poop) soft, so you can have more regular, productive bowel movements. Soluble fiber feeds the beneficial bacteria that inhabit your gut.”
Fiber helps with weight management because it helps you feel fuller longer, she added.
Apricots are boast lutein and zeaxanthin — antioxidants that act like natural sunglasses for your eyes, shielding them from harmful blue light.
Last but not least, the combination of high fiber and antioxidants helps neutralize free radicals — chemicals that cause cellular damage and oxidative stress — which studies have linked to chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Fighting free radicals can also help reduce inflammation in your gut, thereby aiding overall digestion.
How to eat apricots
Apricots are great as a stand-alone snack, but they can also easily be:
- Made into jam
- Mixed into yogurt
- Combined with trail mix
- Baked into desserts
- Garnish for meat dishes
- Added to charcuterie
